Propaganda Parents ignorant about cannabis

[yamman13]

Sorry if this has already been posted, swim did look but couldnt find anything.
taken from the bbc http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7042881.stm


Police chiefs are accusing parents of showing ignorance and complacency in the face of widespread cannabis use among teenage children. The Association of Chief Police Officers says many parents do not understand the serious health risks of newer, more potent strains of the drug.
It is calling on parents to show zero tolerance to help stamp out use of the class C drug.
Government figures for 2006 suggest one in 10 under-16s has smoked cannabis.
The call follows the sentencing of mother Nicola Cooper earlier this week for giving cannabis to her children to stop them buying it from street dealers.
Some kids are taking the equivalent in cannabis terms of what would be a bottle of vodka a day


Professor Robin Murray, Institute of Psychiatry


Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said it was irresponsible parenting to introduce drugs to children.
"It's about zero tolerance," he told BBC Breakfast News.
"It's not cool to smoke drugs. You are not being a good parent by introducing drugs in any sort of way to children's experience to help them grow up.
"It's harmful, there's no place for it so stamp it out."
Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said parents who may have smoked cannabis recreationally in their university days are misguided about the health dangers.
FACTS ABOUT CANNABIS
Cannabis was reclassified from a class b to a class C drug in 2004
It is often imported but is increasingly cultivated in UK homes and greenhouses
Short-term effects are increased pulse rate, decreased blood pressure, bloodshot eyes, heightened appetite and dizziness
In the longer term, smoking it can lead to lung damage, paranoia and mental health problems
Department of Health figures suggest the number of under-16s trying the drug has fallen in recent years
Source: Drugscope


It is thought cannabis can now be three times as strong as it was 20 or 30 years ago.
"We need to get rid of the idea that cannabis is really OK," said Mr Smyth.
"What is largely unseen are our psychiatric hospitals full of people whose illnesses have been triggered by cannabis."
He said it was important to get the message across to children at junior school age of the downsides of the drug.
The police have the support of some health professionals who fear the potency of different types of cannabis, including skunk, is misunderstood.
Stay calm
Professor Robin Murray, of the Institute of Psychiatry, said parents needed to think of cannabis in the same way as they would about alcohol.
"Some liberal parents have been quite pleased when their 15-year-olds tells them they are taking cannabis. They say 'oh, thank goodness' they are not drinking.
I still can't believe we have lost our son all from this so-called soft recreational drug


Debra Bell


"Some kids are taking the equivalent in cannabis terms of what would be a bottle of vodka a day."
Charity Drugscope agrees that some parents are complacent, but insists there are many who are very concerned about their children using drugs.
Martin Barnes, Drugscope's chief executive, advised worried parents to stay calm, seek reliable information and to talk to their children.
"The important point for parents is not to overreact," he said.
"Just because a child is using the drug, they might be experimenting as many young people do, doesn't meant they are going to become a long-term user or a problem user."
Aggressive behaviour
But Debra Bell, whose son started smoking cannabis at 14, told BBC Breakfast News that had not been her experience.
Her son's behaviour became increasingly aggressive and unpredictable and eventually led to him making himself homeless.
She said the received wisdom was to apply tough love but it had been a difficult decision to make.
"I still can't believe we have lost our son all from this so-called soft recreational drug," she said.

[Nagognog2]

The parents are right not to believe the kid became homeless from cannabis. The kid was mentally ill - and the parents were blind to the signals given. But blaming pot is easier than self-evaluation.

I'd love to interview them. As long as I could prescribe some goodies to them when done. And I'm sure Bongo would pop a valium following said interview.

[Nature Boy]

That "equivalent of a bottle of vodka a day" thing really cracks me up. Obviously anyone under the age of 18 shouldn't be using any recreational drug excessively but teenagers will experiment. There's no denying that. I'd be a lot more worried about kids binge-drinking than having the occasional pot party to be perfectly honest.

[Alicia]

This is another line of attack makes me sick really, a lot of people who are unwell mentally sometimes medicate with cannabis as means to cope with there symptoms. it cannot be recommend but should be left to the individual. Teens will be teens i agree with natureboy drinking excessively is more detrimental to mental health alone with depression, suicidal and violent behavior.

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as for Debra bell maybe someone should of done some parenting.. a start would be communication.

[FuBai]

Cannabis should not be compared to alcohol - the most up to date medical research into the relative harms of drug use in the UK put alcohol as far more damaging than cannabis. Even the concept of cannabis use being comparable to alcohol consumption is ridiculous - it's like comparing cocaine with khat - you can't consume an equivalent amount because there is no equivalent, drugs are not equal. As for the rest of those misconceived arguments that a zero tolerance approach will yield results - look at all the places we tried that before, any of those work out? Obviously not, so why are these buffoons still talking about it as if it was a useful approach?

[Alicia]

because most of there followers cant tell morphine from pills in a simple state of the word. drugs are just wrong is the bs they like to give out regardless of weather anything is factual.

[dr ACE]

the publics perspective is all wrong with regards to cannabis,it is really damaging for young people so they shouldn't be using it. But they do so what is the answer? let them have it when,were and as much as they want,do you think they would still want to experiment with it then?.

cannabis and other psycedelics have been demonized for a long time (well for a about half a century?), mainly by religiously motivated individuals in positions of power because they see these substances as a threat to there control and power.

for the simple fact that these types of substances cause consciousness expansion, allowing individuals to change there perspectives and see things the way they really are. There are allot of things the 'church' and government doesn't want people to be aware of like you don't need them to survive. They don't like people being independent because then they loose there control over you